A Workers’ Guide to Occupational Diseases

We all go to our jobs and expect that we are being kept safe, but unfortunately many every day Australians are being exposed to extreme health risks and are unaware.

According to one Australian studies, it is estimated that 81% of workers are regularly exposed to more than one carcinogen at work and 26% of workers are exposed to more than five

This means that each day, thousands of Australians go to work and may be unknowingly endangered by their occupational exposure to chemicals, fumes, dust and other cancer-causing agents.

These alarming rates show the necessary efforts that need to be made to raise awareness on workers’ rights in relation to occupational diseases.

The International Agency of Research for Cancer (IARC) has identified some of the most common carcinogenic substances that workers in Australia are being exposed to are:

• Aflatoxins (mould)
• Asbestos
• Benzene
• Silica
• Solar radiation
• Tobacco
• Welding fumes
• Wood dust

Unfortunately, this means that the workers with the greatest risk of developing occupational diseases are stonemasons, firefighters, farmers, welders, miners, tunnellers, manufacturers and those working in the trade industry.

These impacted industries make up a larger part of the Australian workforce.

The Cancer Council of Australia estimates that this exposure causes over 5000 occupational diseases each year, including:

• Lung cancer
• Silicosis
• Auto-immune conditions; for example, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, systemic sclerosis
• Asbestosis
• COPD (emphysema)
• Mesothelioma
• Occupational asthma
• Prostate cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Leukaemia
• Nasal cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Melanoma and other skin cancers

Despite the extremely high rates of exposure and disease in Australia, historically only approximately 8% of workers were actually obtaining compensation for occupational diseases.

How those with an occupational disease can seek support

Being diagnosed with an occupational disease can have a huge impact upon a worker’s life and that of their families.

While dealing with the devastating news of their diagnosis, workers are also often then faced with lost wages and considerable medical expenses.

The entitlements available throughout Australia for workers suffering from an occupational disease can assist with.

• Pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life
• Past and future medical expenses
• Past and future loss of income
• Cost of assistance around the home
• Nursing care
• Other out of pocket expenses

The law in each State and Territory is of course different and workers suffering from occupational diseases will be required to fulfil different criteria and time restrictions depending on their location.